Truck underhood air flow management system

• US 6,230,832 B1
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Freightliner Limited (Genesee & Wyoming Incorporated)
• Inventors: Salch, Michael C., Holter, Dean Lee, von Mayenburg, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): DePumpo, Daniel G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US08/711,677
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 123/41.01, 296/208, 296/190.09, 296/194
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/10 Bonnets or lids , e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/168 Mud guards for utility vehicles

Abstract

An underhood air flow management system for a truck which includes cowl openings defined between cowl extensions and the rear edges of depending hood sections. Most preferably the cowl extension extends forwardly and inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline of the truck. The cowl extensions assist in deflecting air to the cowl openings, the air having passed through a radiator, along the sides of an engine and engine compartment, and through the cowl openings. The cowl openings preferably extend the full height of the depending hood sections. The bumper of the truck includes a lower extension. In addition, the front wheel wells of the truck are sealed at the front, partially sealed at the side and may be sealed at their rear to reduce the escape of air from the engine compartment through the front wheel wells. The cowl openings are preferably door-free and also lack air flow hindering severe transitions. A charge air cooler may be positioned ahead of the radiator and a fan may be positioned between the radiator and engine. Preferably the radiator is provided with seals so that air cannot enter the engine compartment without passing through the radiator. Seals may be provided between the charge air cooler and the radiator.

Claims

1. A truck comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal axis;

a hood having first and second depending hood sections coupled to the frame and which together define an engine compartment, and wherein each depending hood section includes a rear edge;

an engine positioned within the engine compartment;

a windshield extending upwardly from a location rearwardly of the hood;

a grille receiving opening at the front of the hood;

a grille in the grille receiving opening;

a radiator rearwardly of the grille receiving opening, whereby at least some of the air passing through the grille flows through the radiator; and

first and second side cowl portions, the side cowl portions each being adjacent a rear edge of the respective first and second depending hood sections, the side cowl portions including respective cowl extension portions extending inwardly adjacent to the rear edges of the respective depending hood sections, the cowl extension portions each having a forward air deflection surface extending forwardly toward the front of the vehicle and inwardly toward the center of the vehicle, elongated cowl openings being defined at each side of the truck by the rear edges of the depending hood sections and the cowl extension portions, whereby a significant portion of the air entering the radiator flows past the engine and exits through the cowl openings, the air deflection surfaces assisting in directing the air outwardly through the cowl openings; and

a hood latch positioned at least partially within one of the cowl openings, the hood latch being partially concealed by a respective one of the first and second depending hood sections.

2. A truck according to claim 1 in which the cowl openings are generally rectangular and extend at least about the full height of the depending hood sections rear edges.

3. A truck according to claim 1 in which the cowl openings are door free and baffle free.

4. A truck according to claim 1 in which the depending hood sections have side walls which are opening free.

5. A truck according to claim 1 in which the truck includes front wheel wells, the truck also including a wheel well air deflector having portions positioned to substantially enclose the front and top of the wheel wells and to at least partially enclose the interior sides of the wheel wells, each wheel well having a rearmost portion, and wherein the cowl openings are located forwardly of the rearmost portion of the wheel wells.

6. A truck according to claim 5 in which the wheel well air deflectors have a portion positioned to substantially enclose the rear of the wheel wells.

7. A truck according to claim 1 in which the cowl openings are over thirty square inches.

8. A truck according to claim 1 in which the air deflection surface of each cowl extension portion is curved.

9. A truck according to claim 1 in which the air deflection surface of each cowl extension portion has a convex curved shape.

10. A truck according to claim 1 in which the cowl opening is positioned and shaped such that a major air flow passageway is provided from the engine compartment and through the cowl opening without severe bends.

11. A truck according to claim 1 in which the rear edges of the respective adjacent depending hood sections are vertical and wherein the cowl air deflection surfaces each have a forward portion which is positioned forwardly of the rear edge of the adjacent depending hood sections such that the cowl air deflection surfaces and depending hood sections block lines of sight perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and into the engine compartment.

12. A truck according to claim 1, wherein each rear edge includes at least one substantially straight section.

13. A truck according to claim 12, wherein the straight section is substantially vertical.

14. A truck comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal axis;

a hood and first and second side depending hood sections coupled to the frame and which together define an engine compartment, each depending hood section including a rear edge;

an engine positioned within the engine compartment;

a windshield extending upwardly from a location rearwardly of the hood;

a grille receiving opening at the front of the hood;

a grille in the grille receiving opening;

a radiator rearwardly of the grille receiving opening, whereby air passing through the grille flows through the radiator;

a cowl with first and second side cowl portions adjacent the respective rear edges of the first and second depending hood sections, the side cowl portions including respective cowl extension portions extending inwardly at a location adjacent to and spaced from the rear edges of the depending hood sections, the cowl extension portions each having a curved air deflection surface projecting forwardly toward the front of the vehicle, elongated cowl openings being defined at each side of the truck by the rear edges of the depending hood sections and the cowl extension portions, whereby at least some of the air entering the radiator flows past the engine and exits through the cowl openings, the air deflection surfaces assisting in directing the air outwardly through the cowl openings;

the cowl openings being door free, generally rectangular, and extending at least about the full height of the depending hood sections rear edges;

the depending hood sections having side walls which are opening free;

air shields positioned to impede the flow of air past the radiator and into the engine compartment other than through the radiator;

the depending hood sections defining respective front wheel wells, the truck having a bumper positioned below the grille and extending from side to side of the vehicle, the bumper having a lower bumper flap extension therefrom, the truck having wheel well roofs positioned respectively in the respective wheel wells, each wheel well roof having front and rear edges and a downwardly extending side wall which at least partially separates the wheel well from the engine compartment, a front wheel well section extending from the wheel well roof front edge to the lower bumper flap and a mud flap section extending downwardly from the wheel well roof rear edge, whereby the wheel well is substantially sealed at the front end and partially sealed along the side to direct air passing through the radiator away from the wheel well at such locations, the front wheel wells each having a rearmost portion;

a charge air cooler included between the grille and the radiator with air deflectors positioned to direct air passing through the charge air cooler through the radiator;

the cowl openings being positioned at an elevation entirely above the top of the front wheels and forwardly of the rearmost portion of each of the front wheel wells;

a cooling fan is positioned between the engine and the radiator; and

wherein

the cowl air deflection surfaces each have a forward portion positioned forwardly of the rear edge of the adjacent depending hood section such that the cowl air deflection surfaces and depending hood sections block lines of sight perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and into the engine compartment.